SOCW 6051: Diversity, Human Rights, and Social Justice Week 8 Response to Discussion: Religion and Privilege For citizens in some countries, religious oppression is common and long standing. While freedom of religion is guaranteed in the U.S., religious intolerance still exists. According to the Equal Opportunity Employment commission, the number of lawsuits filed for religious discrimination doubled between 2000–2010 (Pledger, 2011). Social workers must be alert for the complex ways that religious privilege functions. By creating an awareness of the privilege given to some while marginalizing others, social workers can understand how this bias impacts their clients. By Day 07/23/2021 Respond to at least two colleagues by selecting one of their examples to review further. Research and report on a situation in which that group experienced treatment on the other end of the spectrum of oppression or privilege, either in the present day or during an earlier historical period. Colleagues Respond : Diana Thorne  RE: Discussion - Week 8 Top of Form A situation in which members of a religion, experience privilege can be demonstrated in one week in the lives of the “Smith Family”. It is 1 week before Christmas. The Smith family consists of mom, dad, and twin girls ages 10. The Smiths are an all-American Christian family. Their week starts on Monday morning where mom drops the kids off at their elementary school. As the mom drops the children off at school, she and the dad can rest assured that their children will be taught and administered by teachers who share their Christian faith. Their children will also have friends who share their Christian faith and values (Adams et. al., 2018). The dad drives his suburban that has a bumper sticker that states “Jesus Saves” to work proudly and has no fears of his vehicle being vandalized while he is at work (Adams et. al., 2018). Once the dad arrives at work, his boss reminds him of the office Christmas party tonight. The dad and his boss take their Christian work-based holiday party privilege for granted as it is widely supported by the other employees as the norm.  The boss makes an announcement that the company will shut down for the entire week of Christmas as a bonus to the employees to celebrate the religious holidays. During the rest of the week, the family continue to shop at stores that have an abundance of Christian items for the family to practice their faith and celebrate the Christian Christmas holiday while being greeted warmly with salutations “Merry Christmas” (Adams et. al., 2018). Later that Sunday morning, the Smith family attend observed Christmas services with their church congregation where they’re able to worship freely, without fear of violence or threat (Adams et. al., 2018). A situation in which members of a religion, experience religious oppression are Muslim college students being targeted for wearing the hijab and practicing the Qiblah, which is the direction Muslims f.

1. SOCW 6051: Diversity, Human Rights, and Social Justice
Week 8
Response to Discussion: Religion and Privilege
For citizens in some countries, religious oppression is common
and long standing. While freedom of religion is guaranteed in
the U.S., religious intolerance still exists. According to the
Equal Opportunity Employment commission, the number of
lawsuits filed for religious discrimination doubled between
2000–2010 (Pledger, 2011). Social workers must be alert for the
complex ways that religious privilege functions. By creating an
awareness of the privilege given to some while marginalizing
others, social workers can understand how this bias impacts
their clients.
By Day 07/23/2021
Respond
to at least two colleagues by selecting one of their examples to
review further. Research and report on a situation in which that
group experienced treatment on the other end of the spectrum of
oppression or privilege, either in the present day or during an
earlier historical period.
Colleagues Respond
:
Diana Thorne
RE: Discussion - Week 8

2. Top of Form
A situation in which members of a religion, experience
privilege can be demonstrated in one week in the lives of the
“Smith Family”. It is 1 week before Christmas. The Smith
family consists of mom, dad, and twin girls ages 10. The Smiths
are an all-American Christian family. Their week starts on
Monday morning where mom drops the kids off at their
elementary school. As the mom drops the children off at school,
she and the dad can rest assured that their children will be
taught and administered by teachers who share their Christian
faith. Their children will also have friends who share their
Christian faith and values (Adams et. al., 2018). The dad drives
his suburban that has a bumper sticker that states “Jesus Saves”
to work proudly and has no fears of his vehicle being
vandalized while he is at work (Adams et. al., 2018). Once the
dad arrives at work, his boss reminds him of the office
Christmas party tonight. The dad and his boss take their
Christian work-based holiday party privilege for granted as it is
widely supported by the other employees as the norm.
The boss makes an announcement that the company will shut
down for the entire week of Christmas as a bonus to the
employees to celebrate the religious holidays. During the rest of
the week, the family continue to shop at stores that have an
abundance of Christian items for the family to practice their
faith and celebrate the Christian Christmas holiday while being
greeted warmly with salutations “Merry Christmas” (Adams et.
al., 2018). Later that Sunday morning, the Smith family attend
observed Christmas services with their church congregation
where they’re able to worship freely, without fear of violence or
threat (Adams et. al., 2018).
A situation in which members of a religion, experience religious
oppression are Muslim college students being targeted for
wearing the hijab and practicing the Qiblah, which is the

3. direction Muslims face when praying. The majority Christian
students and staff feel uncomfortable when non-Christians
practice their faith and religion. The dominant Christian groups
feel threatened that their established normative religion and
dominant identity are being challenged (Adams et. al., 2018).
Dalia from the Ted Talk explained how marginalized religious
groups like Muslims are targeted and discouraged to congregate
to worship by inflicting fear and violence as a means to control
(Mogahed, 2016).
References
Mogahed, D. (2016, February 23).
What it’s like to be Muslim in America
. TED Talks.
https://www.ted.com/talks/dalia_mogahed_what_it_s_like_to_be
_muslim_in_america
Adams, M., Blumenfeld, W. J., Catalano, D. C., Hackman, H.
W., Dejong, K., Hopkins, L. E., Love, B., Peters, M. L.,
Shlasko, D., & Zuniga, X. (2018).
Readings for diversity and social justice
.
Colleagues Respond
:
Ja'Sharee Bush
RE: Discussion - Week 8
Top of Form
The connection between privilege and religion is Christians
have the advantage and receive praise and are the dominant
group. Examples of Christian privilege are as simple as placing

4. a bumper sticker on your car about your faith without fear of
vandalization, Holidays surrounding the Christian faith are
widely supported (ex. Christmas), and Christians are not
pressured into celebrating someone else faith that may conflict
with theirs (Adams et al., 2018). These are privileges that
Christians think nothing of because they do not have to worry
since they are the dominant group, Muslims, Buddhists, and
other religions are criticized for embracing their religion. They
are forced to conform to the norm or worship in silence. Muslim
individuals engage in prayer throughout the day and have days
and time dedicated to prayer, instead of having the freedom
Christians do to worship, Muslims miss these services or must
find a way to engage in their religion.
People from other religions become targets, an example is a
Muslim community. The Muslim place of worship (Mosque)
would be attacked, and negative publicity followed the Muslim's
traditions. They also marginalized Muslims by having school
calendars cater to Christian children, giving them days off to
engage in Christian traditions (Adams et al., 2018). Christians
have more freedom to worship as they please and other religions
are criticized and targeted for believing differently.
Reference
Adams, M., Blumenfeld, W. J., Castaneda, C., Catalano, D. C.
J., DeJong, K., Hackman, H. W,... Zuniga, X. (Eds.). (2018).
Readings for diversity and social justice (4th ed.). New York,
NY: Routledge Press.
Bottom of Form
Bottom of Form
Please follow Rubric Detail

5. Responsiveness to Directions
8.1 (27%) - 9 (30%)
Discussion posting fully addresses all instruction prompts,
including responding to the required number of peer posts.
Discussion Posting Content
8.1 (27%) - 9 (30%)
Discussion posting demonstrates an excellent understanding of
all of the concepts and key points presented in the text(s) and
Learning Resources. Posting provides significant detail
including multiple relevant examples, evidence from the
readings and other scholarly sources, and discerning ideas.
Peer Feedback and Interaction
6.75 (22.5%) - 7.5 (25%)
The feedback postings and responses to questions are excellent
and fully contribute to the quality of interaction by offering
constructive critique, suggestions, in-depth questions,
additional resources, and stimulating thoughts and/or probes.
Writing
4.05 (13.5%) - 4.5 (15%)
Postings are well organized, use scholarly tone, contain original
writing and proper paraphrasing, follow APA style, contain very
few or no writing and/or spelling errors, and are fully consistent
with graduate level writing style.